[Electromyographic investigations about operative and conservative treatment after rupture of the long tendon of m. biceps brachii (author's transl)].

After conservative respectively operative treatment of two exactly comparable patients who suffered from rupture of the long head of the biceps tendon of the arm, the myoelectric activity of both muscle heads was investigated on the injured arm and compared to the uninjured side. There was a significant diminution of activity in the ruptured long head as well as a reactive hyperactivity in the short head after conservative treatment in contrast to the operative treated patient, where these alterations in muscle activity were less marked. The operative treatment therefore shows a better functional result when compared with the conservatively treated rupture.